The Los Angeles Post

Common-Sense Protective Measures Encouraged During Summertime Travel

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Simple precautions can aid in preventing vacation disruptions

As many Los Angeles County residents make summer travel plans, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) encourages people to take common-sense measures while traveling to avoid contracting and spreading COVID-19, especially at this time of year, when case rates and hospitalizations typically have risen.

For the past three years, Los Angeles County has experienced a significant increase in transmission between June and August, peak summer months when increased travel, celebrations and gatherings have contributed to summer surges. Protective measures, such as handwashing, testing, and staying home when sick, are essential to dampening the spread of COVID-19.

Although data shows that COVID-19 transmission remains low in Los Angeles County, across the course of the pandemic, COVID hospitalizations, an indicator of COVID-19’s impact on the community, have increased during summer months, coinciding with school breaks and summer vacations.

During the first year of the pandemic, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose 40 percent between June 1, 2020, and August 1, 2020. The next year, despite hospitalizations reaching a pandemic-low in June of 2021 at an average of 218 hospitalizations per day, Los Angeles County saw a summer surge during which hospitalizations increased by nearly 300 percent between June 1 and August 1. In 2022 the hospitalization increase was over 150 percent during the same summer months.

As of June 4, 2023, the 7-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County was 226, one of the lowest hospitalization averages since the pandemic began.

Any COVID-19 infection brings risk, including the risk of long COVID, and the chance that the virus may be spread to someone who is more at-risk for severe illness. At the very least, summer gatherings and travel plans can be disrupted. To reduce risks during travel, Public Health urges all residents to take simple precautions, including staying home when sick, masking while using public transportation, and testing if a person is experiencing respiratory symptoms or has been exposed to COVID-19. For added protection, it is also recommended that people traveling together are up to date on COVID vaccines before departure.

In California, insurance plans, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, are required to cover the cost of testing for COVID-19 through Nov. 11, 2023. Exact coverage may vary depending on an individual’s insurance plan. Residents without insurance may receive free at-home test kits or PCR tests for COVID-19 at public libraries, public health clinics, vaccination sites and community health centers or purchase tests from a pharmacy or other local retailer. Having tests on hand while traveling can help detect a COVID-19 infection as soon as possible.

COVID-19 treatments, taken within five days of symptom onset, can help reduce the chance of severe illness from COVID. Anyone traveling for an extended period of time should make a plan with their provider or insurance about how to access treatment in case of infection. For questions about treatment, testing, steps to prevent COVID-19 while traveling, or anything related to COVID-19, the Public Health Call Line remains available every day, from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., by calling 1-833-540-0473.

In addition to increased COVID-19 exposure due to travel and summertime events, an increase in cases also can be caused by mutations to the virus. Currently in Los Angeles County, the most recent sequencing data shows XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain, accounting for 66 percent of sequenced specimens for the two-week period ending May 13, 2023, a decrease from 74 percent during the previous reporting period. The second most dominant strains were XBB.1.9.1 and XBB.1.9.2, accounting for 9 percent and 7 percent of sequenced specimens, respectively, an increase from the prior two-week period. Modeling data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as of May 27 in California and surrounding states, XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain accounting for 53 percent of cases while XBB.1.16 makes up 14 percent and XBB.1.9.1 accounts for about 13 percent of cases. These shifts are small, and officials do not note a cause for concern at this time.

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. May you find peace and comfort during this difficult time,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Like many people, I am looking forward to the summer months and plans with family and friends. More than anything I hope that our numbers remain low and that we start to see a new pattern of COVID-19, with more predictability and fewer surges. As the virus and the circumstances of the pandemic continue to evolve, more will be known about the long-term outlook of COVID-19. For now, all residents are encouraged to use the knowledge we have gained over the past 3+ years, especially when participating in higher risk activities, such as travel. While these activities are lower risk than in past summers, they are not no-risk, especially for people who are older or immunocompromised. Incorporating simple measures, such as handwashing and testing, can help keep each other safe and make for an enjoyable summer.”

For residents who have difficulties leaving their home, Public Health offers free in-home COVID-19 vaccinations. Appointments may be made at ph.lacounty.gov/vaxathome, or ph.lacounty.gov/vacunacionencasa (en español). Homebound services and other COVID-19 resources, including vaccines, testing and treatment, are free and readily available by calling the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 seven days a week between 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The CDC has replaced COVID-19 Community Levels with Hospital Admission Levels, which can help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions they can take based on the most recent information. Los Angeles County is in the Low Hospital Admission Level with 3.0 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported June 1, 2023.

The 7-day average number of COVID hospitalizations is 226 this week. Reported weekly deaths increased to 46 deaths reported this week.  As of Tuesday, June 6, there have been a total of 36,424 COVID deaths in Los Angeles County.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization, and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

6/7/2023

5/31/2023

5/24/2023

5/17/2023

Weekly cases reported1,2

1,902

1,801

2,157

2,323

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value3

10%

11%

9%

10%

7-day average of the percent of emergency department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related3,4

2.5%

2.3%

2.7%

3.0%

7-day average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations3,4

226*

254*

190*

225*

Weekly deaths reported2

46

40

35

20

1) Case counts are an underrepresentation of the true number of infections, largely due to home tests which are not reported to DPH. Despite this, the trend in reported case counts from week to week is still an indicator of overall trends in transmission.

2) Weekly case and death counts represent the number of cases and deaths reported for the week ending each Tuesday. The date a case/death is reported by DPH is not the same as the date of testing or death.

3) Time periods covered by each metric: wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Sunday.

4) Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.

*Due to a reporting transition at the state level and subsequent underreporting from hospitals, this value is an undercount. Efforts are actively underway to address the underreporting.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/COVIDdata including:

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

Cases through 12:00pm 6/5/2023

 

Total Cases

NEW

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,749,879

1902

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

3,545,194

1762

— Long Beach

164,362

102

— Pasadena

40,323

38

Deaths

36,424

46

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

34,562

41

— Long Beach

1,415

5

— Pasadena

447

0

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

– 0 to 4

112,072

– 5 to 11

283,194

– 12 to 17

277,917

– 18 to 29

759,463

– 30 to 49

1,136,060

– 50 to 64

615,617

– 65 to 79

265,065

–  over 80

93,255

–  Under Investigation

2,551

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Female

1,829,700

–  Male

1,624,647

–  Other

1,796

–  Under Investigation

89,051

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

6,720

–  Asian

264,197

–  Black

186,291

–  Hispanic/Latino

1,514,859

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,741

–  White

492,381

–  Other

407,367

–  Under Investigation

655,638

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Hospitalized (Ever)

178,085

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

80

–  Asian

4,504

–  Black

3,247

–  Hispanic/Latino

16,892

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

119

–  White

9,216

–  Other

414

–  Under Investigation

90